Please put your hooves together for your next performer...
Maud Pie!
What do you call an Alicorn with no wings and no horn?
"Earth Pony."
[Pinkie Pie shrieks with laughter]
But seriously, being an Earth Pony isn't so bad.
We've got magic powers, too.
Like walking around...
and picking stuff up with our teeth.
That's sarcasm by the way.
It's funny cause it's true!
My favorite thing to listen to is clastic rock.
The accumulation of sediments over millennia forming
to create sandstone, shale and breccia.
It sounds something like this.
And that's my time.
Pinkie: Hahahahaha!
Isn't my sister Maud the most hilarious, entertaining,
AMAZING comedian ever?
Your jokes!
Your hilarious delivery!
Your.. your EVERYTHING!
How was my... timing?
Ha! You got me!
C'mon! Let's celebrate, sister style!
We could get matching stickers that say "Eyes on the Pies!"
then show them off at the Ponyville Sticker Convention
that I could plan for tomorrow if you want?
Actually, I'm busy tonight.
Aw, that's what you said yesterday.
And the day before that.
And the day before the day before that!
[sigh] It's just, we haven't hung out in a really long time
because you always have other plans,
even when you promised to build whip cream pyramids with me.
I know. I am sorry, Pinkie. The reason is I have a--
Apology accepted.
As long as we get some serious sister time
before your birthday.
And there's uh, definitely no reason
I want to hang out before your birthday.
Just, you know, not planning anything special.
OK.
What about tomorrow morning?
OK.
Yay!
Just you and me!
Best Sister Friends Forever!
Best Sister Friends Forever.
I can't wait for tomorrow to be today!
Eeeeeeeee!
Tomorrow is today!
Who's ready for some fun times at Sugarcube Corner?
The answer is YOU!
I would also accept "Maud."
Maud?
MAUD?
[gasp] Oh, I get it!
We're playing hide and go seek!
Ah-HA! Found you!
Where's Maud?
I've already checked Discord's dimension,
Granny Smith's wax museum, AND Yakyakistan!
She HAS to be here!
Nope, it's just me, reading.
Story checks out..
OR DOES IT?
It does.
But are you sure there's nopony hiding...
IN YOUR CLOSET?
Pinkie...I don't have a closet.
Is everything OK?
No. I was supposed to go birthday cake shopping
with Maud today.
And ruin her surprise party?
I wasn't going to tell her why, silly!
But now I can't even find Maud.
I'm usually way better at hide and seek than this.
Oh, she probably just found a new rock formation
and forgot you two were gonna hang out.
Tell you what, you take care of the cake,
and I'll look for Maud.
Really?
Thanks, Starlight!
Just checking.
I've got to get very important ingredients for a very important
pony's cake, and it's gotta be tippy-top-super-duper-secret.
Technically... it's not your turn yet.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Didn't mean to cut in front of anypony.
Um, whatcha doin'?
I am currently speaking to a pony at a baking supply shop
two minutes before it closes for lunch.
Riiiiight.
OK..?
It's just that I'm trying to plan a party here,
and the clock is ticking while you, uh...
What are you doing, anyway?
I am currently speaking to--
I mean, can I help you move this along?
What are you looking for?
Rolling pins? Cupcake tins?
Cookie cutters with tails and fins?
Goodbye.
THAT'S what you've been standing here all this time to say?
I was deciding between "goodbye" and "see you later."
Uh...but...they're the same thing!
Technically? They're very different.
"See you later" implies an event in the near future
wherin we see each other.
"Goodbye" expresses good wishes where parting
or at the end of a conversation.
Yeah. Same thing.
I will not apologize for speaking with precision.
In that case, apology not accepted!
Goodbye-later-seeya-same thing!
Ah! Can you believe that guy?
Huh?
"Out to lunch?"
Oh, come on!
Ugh. No Maud, no cake, no anything!
And how annoying was that pony?
Who takes that long to say goodbye?
Or was it "see you later?"
UGH, now he's got me doing it!
Hello, Pinkie Pie.
MAUD!
Found you!
My turn to hide!
I'm sorry I wasn't around this morning.
Oh, psh, what are you apologizing to me for?
I'm not upset, you silly willy.
The reason is I met somepony--
Want to hang out right now?
I mean, I can see you're not doing anything
with anypony else.
Unless they're invisible or really small.
Pinkie.
The reason I've been so busy is that I have a boyfriend now.
A WHA?
A boyfriend.
A WHAAAAAA?
A boyfriend.
A WHAAAAAA?
A boyfriend.
That's so exciting!
MY sister!
IN LOVE!
Technically, we're "in like."
Tell me EVERYTHING!
Who is he? What's his favorite color?
Does he like ice cream?
If he were a bird, what kind of bird would he be?
Wait. Is he actually a bird?
Oh! I don't know because you haven't told me anything yet!
You'll like him.
We have a lot in common.
Well, I love you,
so I know I'm going to love your boyfriend!
Oh! I can't wait to meet him!
You don't have to.
He's a rock!
And you love rocks, so it's perfect!
[gasp] Is Boulder jealous?
No, behind the rock.
Mudbriar, are you back there?
Technically? Not anymore.
[gasp] WHA WHA WHAAAAA?
Pinkie Pie, meet Mudbriar.
Technically?
We've already met.
You...?
Yes.
You?
Yes.
You.
Yes.
I mean... haha, you!
You! You! You!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
I'm sorry, let's start over.
Hi! I'm Maud's sister, Pinkie Pie.
I know.
So...
How did...
You two meet?
At a rock show.
Oh, you're into rocks too?
No. I like sticks.
Then why were you at a rock show?
It was a petrified wood show, which technically
makes it a stick show.
Except that in the permineralization process
of petrification, all organic material is replaced with
silicates, i.e. rocks--
--while retaining the original structural elements of wood.
Q.E.D. It was a stick show.
I'm... really into sticks too!
They're great for hitting piñatas!
Aaahhh!
Pinkie!
Oh, you wanna go first?
That is stick abuse.
It is?
I'm sorry.
Oh, this is awful, I am not being a very good sister.
Let's start over.
I'm Pinkie Pie, nice to meet you.
Technically?
We've already met.
You should introduce Pinkie to your pet.
Oh!
Your pet likes fetch!
This is my pet.
So no.
Aw. Look at Twiggy and Boulder playing together.
They're adorable.
It's just a stick.
Don't be rude.
Ah! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
One more time...
I'm Pinkie Pie, nice to meet you.
Technically?
We've already met.
AHHHH!
I don't get this guy!
Wow! Maud has a boyfriend?
Agh!
How can she like someone so weird?
He has an inanimate object for a pet!
So does Maud.
Boulder has TEN times the personality
of some random stick.
Mudbriar too, for that matter.
He's not like Maud AT ALL.
Maud is hilarious, friendly, caring, and easy to talk to!
Yup, that's Maud.
But this guy is awkward, quiet, and kind of...
strange!
Uh, that also sounds like Maud.
Hah! You're so funny, Starlight!
Maud is nothing like Mudbriar.
If she were, then we wouldn't be best sister friends forever.
Well, Maud obviously likes something about him.
Maybe you just need to spend more time with him,
find out what you have in common.
That's easy.
Nothing!
You both care about Maud.
I know! He could help you with her party!
I guess...
And I'll keep Maud busy while you and Mudbriar
plan the best surprise birthday ever!
That, I can do.
Listen. Maud's birthday is tomorrow
and there's no time to waste.
You're not afraid of slides, are you?
No, wh-aaaahhhhhhhh!
No reason!
Weeeeee!
Welcome to my PARTY PLANNING CAVE!
Technically?
Due to the speleothems growing from the ceiling,
this is more of a cavern than a cave.
Maud taught me that.
Yeah OK.
Here's what I'm thinking for her surprise party:
edible rock candy plates, gem-shaped ice cubes,
a pebble piñata--
--uh, we'll skip that one.
Might I make some suggestions?
Oh, suggest away!
That's why you're here.
You and me, planning... together.
Friends.
I have a vision board of everything Maud loves,
and none of those things are on it.
Hm.
Let me see this "vision board."
It's not a physical thing.
I'm envisioning it.
I enter through the large door of my mind palace
and enter to the back where I have all of my books
and possessions and what do I encounter, The Maud Room.
None of those things are there.
Just as I thought.
Maud doesn't like surprises.
Where does it say that?
She never told me that!
Mm. It sounds like she was protecting your feelings.
She's very caring that way.
Stop acting like you know my sister better than me!
Technically, I never said that.
Well, technically, I don't care!
And since I've been best sister friends forever with Maud
my entire life, I think I'M the expert here!
Oh, but fine. If you don't believe me, let's ASK HER.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE SUPER SNEAKY!
Can you be more specific?
NO!
Huh! You must be Mudbriar!
I'm Starlight Glimmer, nice to meet you!
I've heard great things.
I'm so glad the two of you are spending time together!
So, how's it.. going?
Mudbriar and I have just spent the BEST time bonding
and we're really starting to make some headway
becoming besties, except for one teensy weensy
disagreement that maybe you could settle, Maud.
See, Mudbriar here seems to think
that you don't like surprise parties.
Isn't it funny how WRONG HE IS?
I like surprise parties...
Hmm?
...because I know they make you happy
when you throw them for me.
See?
WAIT, WHAT?
I'd rather just do something small with you, Starlight,
Boulder, and Mudbriar for my birthday.
No party?
NO. PARTY?
Did he put you up to this?
Mm mm.
Maybe you should consider, I don't know,
taking things a little less serious with Mudbriar,
because he's kinda, sorta...
IMPOSSIBLE TO LIKE.
Hey, Mudbriar!
Have you ever flown a kite?
Lemme tell you all about it, see,
the first thing you should do is...
I just can't believe you would choose sitting around with him
over a party with your own sister.
I didn't "choose" either of you.
Technically?
I said I wanted to be with both of you.
TECHNICALLY!?
UGH! You even like the way he TALKS?
Everything about him makes me happy.
Then I guess you don't need
a best sister friend forever forever anymore.
Pinkie...
Wait, let's all slow down and talk about this--
No! [blubbering]
See you later!
I don't understand!
How could Maud like Mudbriar?
Is it opposite day?
Nothing makes sense!
I'm not shy!
And I hate animals.
Fashion?
Not for me, Darling.
Pthew, an apple a day is downright disgusting.
Slow and steady wins the race.
I never learned to read!
WHAT IF I DON'T LIKE CUPCAKES?
Good morning!
Oh, wait... bad morning.
GET OUTTA BED, SIS!
IF YOU'RE GONNA BE HERE, YOU GOTTA WORK!
Oh.
You're probably wondering why I came back to the family farm
in the middle of the night.
Mmm-hmm.
Well, it all started when--
Less talking, more farming!
Mmmmm.
It's just... Maud has a boyfriend.
I'm not jealous.
Who said anything about jealous?
Don't be!
He's super-duper weird!
And somehow he tricked Maud into liking him.
And now I'll never get to see her again.
I came home because you two know her better than anypony.
What am I missing?
What does she see in him?
What does he have that I don't!?
Buck up, Pinkie Pie!
You look as miserable as I feel all the time.
It's just.. that I love Maud and I WANT to love Mudbriar,
but I can't see anything to LIKE about him!
Ugh, fine.
We're taking a work break.
C'mon.
I'm looking at a sparkling bright blue and white rock.
See it?
You mean that lumpy gray one?
No, the beautiful blue and white one, right there.
I would not describe that as beautiful, blue, or white,
but... heh heh, OK!
Show her.
It's a geode.
The outside looks like a regular rock,
but the inside is filled with beautiful gems.
So you're saying...
I should crack open Mudbriar like a rock!
IT ALL MAKES SENSE.
No wait, it doesn't.
It's a METAPHOR, Pinkie!
You see Mudbriar as a rock, but Maud sees him as a gem.
Even if you never see past his dullness,
you CAN see how happy he makes Maud.
And to a sister, that's all that matters.
Mmm-hmm!
Oh, Limestone, Marble, thank you.
I don't know what I'd do without you two!
PIE PILE!
OK, OK. You're crushing me to gravel, Pinkie!
I really owe Mudbriar an apology.
[gasp] And I owe Maud a party!
I just hope I'm not too late!
I brought you an olive branch to say sorry.
I was really unfair to you,
and I'm ready to listen to your ideas for Maud's birthday,
if you still want to plan it together.
Technically, this isn't even an olive branch.
It's a quercus, most likely castaneifolia.
OH COME ON!
Uh... Sorry.
Keepin' it together...
And I love a good quercus.
Friends?
Friends!
Now, do you have any ideas for the party?
There is one...
SURPRISE!
This is my favorite party ever.
It was all your amazing boyfriend's idea.
He said the best present would be me throwing you a surprise
party you didn't have to go to.
Technically?
It wasn't a surprise because she could see the pre-party
preparations from up here.
"Technically..?"
You're right!